CNRL bitumen leak has likely contaminated groundwater, report says

From:  Edmonton Journal 

By Sheila Pratt, Edmonton Journal October 23, 2013

Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNRL) workers cleaning up the bitumen emulsion on this marsh after it seeped up through a fissure under the water at their Primrose oilsand projects north of Cold Lake, August 8, 2013. A total of four sites have this seepage occurring and to date 7300 barrels have been collected from 13.5 hectares.

Alberta Environment says bitumen leaking on CNRL’s Cold Lake lease has entered aquifers and the company must take immediate steps to minimize its migration into subsurface water and soil.

Sticky bitumen, which has oozd to the surface for more than six months, “has entered local non-saline groundwater aquifers, likely contaminating the groundwater,” says the 15-page enforcement order issued by Alberta Environment late Monday.

The enforcement order gives the company permission to drill more wells this winter to test groundwater at the four leak sites and attempt to stop the flow of bitumen moving up through fissures in the rock to the surface.

To stop the flow, CNRL will try to identify the exact pathway the bitumen takes to the surface from deep underground, said CNRL spokeswoman Zoe Addington.

Then,the company plans to drill into the fissure — horizontally or diagonally — to try to interrupt the flow of bitumen to the surface, she said.

“Once we find the pathway, we can try to deplete any bitumen emulsion by using relief wells,” Addington said. “This may stop the flow of bitumen emulsion to the surface.”

Any contaminated groundwater can be pumped out of the ground, she added.  MORE